PRINCE FREDERICK — CalvertHealth Medical Center in Prince Frederick has received two national distinctions for quality and patient safety, including placement on Forbes’ inaugural Top Hospitals list and recognition by Becker’s Hospital Review for achieving one of the lowest catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates in the country.
The hospital earned a 4-star rating in the Forbes Top Hospitals 2026 rankings, released in December 2025, joining a select group of facilities evaluated on publicly reported measures. The list assessed nearly 5,400 general acute care hospitals nationwide, with about 2,500 meeting inclusion criteria based on data availability and performance thresholds. Of those, 253 received 5 stars and 509 earned 4 stars, comprising the inaugural list of 762 top-performing hospitals.
Forbes’ methodology, developed with healthcare data firm Inovalon and an advisory panel of clinicians, researchers, and patient advocates, weighted 56 measures from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Provider Data Catalog. Categories included clinical outcomes at 55 percent, best practices at 20 percent, value at 15 percent, and patient experience at 10 percent. Outcomes were adjusted for social drivers of health, such as local socioeconomic factors and access to services, to enable fair comparisons.
CalvertHealth also joined 518 hospitals nationwide identified by Becker’s Hospital Review with a catheter-associated urinary tract infection rate of zero, based on 2024 data from the CMS healthcare-associated infections dataset. This measure, collected through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Healthcare Safety Network, tracks infections in patients with urinary catheters during hospital stays. A zero standardized infection ratio reflects rigorous adherence to prevention protocols, including timely catheter removal, aseptic insertion techniques, and ongoing staff training.
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections represent a key healthcare-associated infection metric, as catheters are common in acute care settings but carry risks if not managed properly. Hospitals reporting zero cases demonstrate effective infection control programs, which align with national goals to reduce preventable harms under initiatives like the CMS Hospital-Acquired Condition Reduction Program.
Jeremy Bradford, president and CEO of CalvertHealth, addressed the achievements in a statement. “These recognitions are a testament to the skill, dedication and compassion of our entire team,” Bradford said. “Being included in Forbes’ inaugural Top Hospitals list, along with our exceptional performance in preventing infections, underscores our unwavering commitment to providing safe, high-quality, patient-centered care to the community we serve.”
The hospital maintains accreditation by The Joint Commission and participates in Medicare and Medicaid certification. These latest honors build on prior ratings, such as high-performing designations from U.S. News & World Report in select procedures and conditions.
In Maryland, several hospitals earned spots on the Forbes list, reflecting regional strengths in quality metrics. CalvertHealth’s 4-star overall rating positions it among facilities delivering consistent performance across outcomes like mortality rates, readmissions, and safety indicators.
The Becker’s recognition highlights infection prevention efforts critical in community hospitals, where resources focus on core services like emergency care, surgery, and maternity. Zero CAUTI rates require multidisciplinary coordination, from nursing protocols to physician oversight and environmental services.
